A general view of Cedral St Conleth's Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The GAA has reaffirmed its commitment to county infrastructure development with the recent announcement inviting applications from County Boards to a fund that will allocate €2m for Capital Projects at county grounds and training centres again this year. This brings the total invested in County Infrastructure development from this particular fund since it was launched in 2021, to more than €11m.
The application window is open until the end of July, with successful applicants to be announced in September.
This funding round will focus on key priority areas, including:
• Health and safety improvements at county grounds
• Pitch development & changing rooms
• Retrofitting and installation of floodlighting
These projects are aimed at enhancing both player welfare and spectator experience at GAA venues across the country.
This investment is in addition to the annual GAA Club Grants, which will invest €4 million into club facilities this year. The Club Grant Programme is on track to reach €5 million per annum by 2026 (per the GAA Strategic Plan “Aontas 2026 - Towards One GAA for All”), underscoring the Association’s broader commitment to facility development at all levels.
This County Capital Grants Fund was established by the GAA National Finance and Infrastructure Committees in 2021 to provide a transparent and structured mechanism for the GAA Central Council to award grant funding toward County Infrastructure Projects. The fund specifically targets projects addressing key areas of concern, such as:
• Health and safety at county grounds
• Spectator matchday experience
• Growing demand on training facilities
• Player Welfare
• Rising energy costs
• Environmental sustainability
Over the past three years, this fund has played a crucial role in supporting counties in their efforts to address these challenges. The GAA anticipates the continuation of this fund into the future, ensuring that counties can sustainably develop their facilities to meet modern needs and standards.